Fixing structure of rod and synthetic resin component

ABSTRACT

A fixing structure of a rod and a synthetic resin component in which an inserting part ( 6 ) of a rod ( 2 ) having widened rear side is formed in a synthetic resin component ( 3 ) and a stopper ( 7 ) projecting obliquely rearward from the inner surface of the inserting part ( 6 ) is provided in the rear side thereof in order to solve the problem of a prior art that the rod is not integral with the synthetic resin component fixed to the forward end of the rod. On the other hand, a recess ( 8 ) for stopping the forward end of the stopper ( 7 ) is formed in the side face at the forward end of the rod ( 2 ) and a part ( 10 ) for regulating the forward end position of the rod ( 2 ) is provided in the rear of the inserting part ( 6 ). The position regulating part ( 10 ) prevents or extremely minimizes upward fine movement of the synthetic resin component ( 3 ) with respect to the rod ( 2 ) and the stopper ( 7 ) prevents downward fine movement of the synthetic resin component ( 3 ) with respect to the rod ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fixing structure in which a syntheticresin component is fixed to a forward end of a rod.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as a typical example of a fixing structure in which asynthetic resin component is fixed to a forward end of a rod, there isknown an opening and closing element support that supports an openingand closing element such as an engine hood of a motor vehicle in anopening state. As the opening and closing element support, JapaneseUtility Model Examined Application Publication No. 8-2045 describes “anopening and closing element support that consists of a support rod and asupport member attached to a forward end of the support rod and made ofplastic, wherein the support rod includes a protruding engagement partin a direction around a shaft of the support rod, the support memberincludes a strike abutting on a peripheral surface of a hole edge of anengagement hole provided in the opening and closing element, aninsertion part provided to protrude integrally on this strike andinserted into the engagement hole, and a fixing cylindrical partprovided downward of and integrally with the strike and the support rodis attached thereto, an engagement protrusion engaged with theperipheral surface of the hole edge of the engagement hole of theopening and closing element is provided on a forward end of theinsertion part while protruding downward of an undulating direction ofthe support, a stopper piece engaged with the engagement part of thesupport rod inserted into this fixing cylindrical part is provided toprotrude inside the fixing cylindrical part, and rotation preventingmeans that prevents the support rod and the attachment cylindrical partfrom rotating together is provided at the support rod and the fixingcylindrical part”.

The support member of this opening and closing element support ispromptly assembled into the support by inserting the support rod, andthis insertion assembly enables maintaining a direction of the assemblywithout change.

However, the opening and closing element support has problems to besolved. For example, even if the assembly direction of the supportmember (synthetic resin component) relative to the support rod (rod) canbe maintained, the support member makes a fine movement in a verticaldirection. This disadvantageously makes integration of the supportmember (synthetic resin component) with the support rod (rod) poor.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the prior art problem that the support rod (rod) and thesupport member (synthetic resin component) are not integrated with eachother, the present invention solves the problems by widening a rear sideof a rod insertion part of the synthetic resin component, providing astopper piece that protrudes obliquely rearward of an inner surface ofthe rear side of the insertion part of the synthetic resin componentwithin the rear side thereof, forming a stopper recess on a forward endof the stopper piece on a side surface of a forward end of the rod, andproviding a position regulating part that regulates a position of theforward end of the rod in a rear part of the insertion part to beabutted on or proximate to the forwarded end of the rod. By soconstituting, the position regulating part prevents or extremelyminimizes an upward fine movement of the synthetic resin componentrelative to the rod, and the stopper piece prevents a downward finemovement of the synthetic resin component relative to the stopper piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view that depicts important parts of an openingand closing element support; FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtaken along X-X shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged view that depictsimportant parts of an opening and closing element support according toanother embodiment; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view takenalong Y-Y shown in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the drawings. In respect of a fixing structure of a rod anda synthetic resin component according to the present invention, FIG. 1is an enlarged view that depicts important parts of an opening andclosing element support, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtaken along X-X shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, similarly to the prior art, an opening and closingelement support 1 is configured by a rod 2 which has a lower endrotatably attached to a vehicle body and which is allowed to freelyundulate, and a support member 3 a which is a synthetic resin component3 attached to a forward end of the rod 2. An upper region of the supportmember 3 a serves as an insertion part 4 inserted into an engagementhole B of an opening and closing element A, and a collar-like strike 5is provided in a lower portion of the insertion part 4.

Further, the strike 5 is formed to be larger than the engagement hole Bso as to receive a peripheral portion of the engagement hole B of theopening and closing element A.

A rear side of the insertion part 6 of a rod 2, which is formed in thesupport member 3 a, is formed wide to provide a containing region 6 a inwhich a forward end of the rod 2 is contained, and an inlet side of theinsertion part 6 is formed as a fitting and inserting region 6 b intowhich the rod 2 is fitted and inserted. By opening the containing region6 a on both sides of the insertion part 4, the insertion part 4 isformed into a frame.

A stopper piece 7 protruding obliquely to the rear side of the insertionpart 6 is provided within the containing region 6 a of the supportmember 3 a, and formed integrally with the support member 3 a. On theother hand, a stopper recess 8 of a forward end of the stopper piece 7is formed on a side surface of the forward end of the rod 2. Inaddition, an abutment surface 9 of the forward end of the stopper piece7 directed toward a proximal end of the rod 2 is formed on the stopperrecess 8.

A pressing member 10 a, which serves as a position regulating part 10that regulates a position of the forward end of the rod 2, is providedin a rear part of the containing region 6 a, and formed integrally withthe support member 3 a. On the other hand, an abutment surface 11 of thepressing member 10 a directed toward the rear side of the containingregion 6 a is formed on the forward end side of the rod 2. The abutmentsurface 11 also serves as a forward end surface of the rod 2 accordingto this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressing member 10 a according to thisembodiment is a compression elastic member formed integrally with acentral part of a plate member 10 b of a downward circular arc shape anda rear part of a insertion part 6, via a coupling member 10 c. However,the pressing member 10 a according to the present invention is notlimited to this. The pressing member 10 a may be, for example, a foldedplate-like compression elastic member, not shown, provided in the rearpart of the containing region 6 a, may be a compression elastic member,e.g., a compression spring, provided separately from the support member3 a, or may be a simple protrusion protruding integrally with the rearpart of the insertion part 6. In addition, the abutment surface 11 ofthe pressing member 10 a may be a surface directed toward the rear sideof the insertion part 6 in a stepped part provided on the forward endside of the rod 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a protrusion 13 may be formed in a side of a portionwithin the fitting and inserting region 6 b of the insertion part 6 ofthe rod 2, and a fitting groove 1 of the protrusion 13 may be formed inan inner peripheral surface of the fitting and inserting region 6 b ofthe insertion part 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an intermediate part ofthe rod 2 is compressed, whereby the protrusion 13 protrudes on bothsides thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to form the insertion part 6 on thesupport member 3 a so that an opposite region to the stopper recess 8 inthe insertion part 6 of the rod 2 is closely attached to an innerperipheral surface of the insertion part 6.

According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an opening andclosing element support 1 is configured by a rod 2 similar to that ofthe opening and closing element support 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and asupport member 3 a which is a synthetic resin component 3 that includesan insertion part 4 and a strike 5. A stopper piece 7 is formed in acontaining region 6 a of the support member 3 a, and a stopper recess 8of a forward end of the stopper piece 7 is formed on a side surface of aforward end of the rod 2. An abutment surface 9 of the stopper recess 8is formed as an inclined guide surface, and a position regulating part10 in a rear part of the containing region 6 a is formed not as apressing member 10 a but simply as a convex 10 d having a convex curvedsurface. In addition, a flat surface 15 is formed on an opposite side tothe stopper recess 8 on the side surface of the forward end of the rod2, and a flat surface 16 in close contact with the flat surface 15 isformed in the insertion part 6 of the support member 3 a. The flatsurface 15 of the rod 2 is formed by compressing the forward end of therod 2, and a part protruding on both sides of the rod 2 due to thecompression is formed on an extension of the protrusion 13 as shown inFIG. 4. A chamfer 17 is formed on an edge of the forward end of the rod2. The forward end surface of the rod 2 is made to be abutted on orproximate to the position regulating part 10 in the rear part of thecontaining region 6 a, i.e., the convex 10 d.

Although this embodiment has been described while taking the opening andclosing element support 1 as an example, the present invention is notlimited to such a product. The present invention is applicable to anyproduct as long as the product is configured so that the forward end ofthe rod 2 is inserted into the insertion part 6 of the synthetic resincomponent 3 to thereby integrate the rod 2 with the synthetic resincomponent 3.

A process of attaching the synthetic resin component 3 to the forwardend of the rod 2 will next be described in detail.

In the process of inserting the forward end of the rod 2 into theinsertion part 6 of the synthetic resin component 3, an inclined slidesurface 12 on the forward end of the rod 2 is first abutted on thestopper piece 7 to bring down the stopper piece 7. Next, the rod 2 movesforward with the forward end of the stopper piece 7 in slidable contactwith an outer peripheral surface of the rod 2, and the abutment surface11 on the forward end side of the rod 2, i.e., the forward end surfaceof the rod 2 is abutted on the pressing member 10 a to deform thepressing member 10 a. When the forward end of the stopper piece 7 islocated in the stopper recess 8 and is deviated from the peripheralsurface of the rod 2, the stopper piece 7 is returned to its initialposition by an elastic restoring force and the forward end of thestopper piece 7 is fitted into the stopper recess 8. Finally, the rod 2is pressed down by the elastic restoring force of the pressing member 10a, the forward end of the stopper piece 7 is abutted on the abutmentsurface 9 of the stopper recess 8, and the synthetic resin component 3is fixedly attached to the forward end of the rod 2.

Furthermore, the inclined slide surface 12 on the forward end of the rod2 is abutted on the stopper piece 7, whereby the stopper piece 7 isprevented from being scraped off during attachment of the syntheticresin component 3 to the forward end of the rod 2.

In the process of inserting the rod 2 into the insertion part 6 of thesynthetic resin component 3, after the forward end of the rod 2 isabutted on the stopper piece 7, the stopper piece 7 is slightly deformedand a side of the synthetic resin component 3 is elastically deformed toexpand outward, whereby the forward end of the stopper piece 7 slidablycontacts with the outer peripheral surface of the rod 2. The forward endof the rod 2 is then abutted on the pressing member 10 a in the rearside of the insertion part 6 to deform the pressing member 10 a, theforward end of the synthetic resin component 3 is elastically deformedto expand outward, the synthetic resin component 3 which has beenattached to the rod 2 remains deformed extremely slightly, and theelastic restoring force of the component 3 acts on the rod 2 via thestopper piece 7 and the pressing member 10 a. As a result, the rod 2 andthe synthetic resin component 3 are integrated with each other furtherstrongly.

According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the chamfer 17on the forward end of the rod 2 is first abutted on the stopper piece 7to bring down the stopper piece 7. Next, the rod 2 moves forward withthe forward end of the stopper piece 7 in slidable contact with an outerperipheral surface of the rod 2. When the forward end of the stopperpiece 7 is located in the stopper recess 8 and deviated from theperipheral surface of the rod 2, the stopper piece 7 is returned to itsinitial position by an elastic restoring force and the rod 2 movesforward with the forward end of the stopper piece 7 in slidable contactwith the abutment surface 9. Finally, the forward end of the stopperpiece 7 is fitted into the stopper recess 8, the forwarded end of therod 2 is abutted on or proximate to the position regulating part 10,i.e., the convex 10 d, and the synthetic resin component 3 is fixedlyattached to the forward end of the rod 2.

In the process of inserting the rod 2 into the insertion part 6 of thesynthetic resin component 3, after the forward end of the rod 2 isabutted on the stopper piece 7, the stopper piece 7 is slightly deformedand a side of the synthetic resin component 3 is elastically deformed toexpand outward, whereby the forward end of the stopper piece 7 slidablycontacts with the outer peripheral surface of the rod 2. The syntheticresin component 3 which has been attached to the rod 2 remains deformedextremely slightly, and the elastic restoring force of the component 3acts on the rod 2 via the stopper piece 7 and the flat surface 16. As aresult, the rod 2 and the synthetic resin component 3 are integratedwith each other further strongly.

A function of the fixing structure of fixing the synthetic resincomponent to the rod according to the present invention will next bedescribed.

In the first embodiment, the rod 2 is brought down by the elasticrestoring force of both of or one of the pressing member 10 a and theforward end of the synthetic resin component 3. In the secondembodiment, by making the forward end of the rod 2 abutted on orproximate to the convex 10 d, the upward fine movement of the syntheticresin component 3 relative to the rod 2 is prevented or extremelyminimized. In addition, the forward end of the stopper piece 7 isengaged with the stopper recess 8 of the rod 2 and abutted on theabutment surface 9. Due to this, the vertical fine movement of thesynthetic resin component 3 relative to the rod 2 is completelyprevented or extremely minimized.

The stopper piece 7 and the pressing member 10 a according to the firstembodiment and the stopper piece 7 according to the second embodimentare formed so as not to be easily deformed when a load is exerted on thesynthetic resin component 3 from above, for example, when the openingand closing element support supports the opening and closing element Ato be open. For this reason, these elements are required to havestrengths to some degree. Considering this, the insertion part 4 isopened on the rear side of the insertion part 6, i.e., the containingregion 6 a is opened on the both sides of the insertion part 4 to beformed into a frame. It is thereby possible to facilitate deforming theinsertion part 4 and fix the synthetic resin component 3 to the rod 2without greatly deforming the stopper piece 7 and the pressing member 10a according to the first embodiment or the stopper piece 7 according tothe second embodiment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In short, according to the present invention, the rear side of theinsertion part 6 of the synthetic resin component 3 into which the rod 2is inserted is widened, the stopper piece 7 that protrudes obliquelyrearward of the inner surface of the rear side of the insertion part 6is provided within the rear side thereof, and the stopper recess 8 on aforward end of the stopper piece 7 is formed on the side surface of theforward end of the rod 2. Therefore, the engagement structure in whichthe forward end of the stopper piece 7 is engaged with the stopperrecess 8 can prevent the synthetic resin component 3 from detaching fromthe rod 2.

Further, the position regulating part 10 that regulates the position ofthe forward end of the rod 2 is provided in the rear part of theinsertion part 6. Accordingly, the position regulating part 10 makes apositioning of the forward end of the rod 2. It is, therefore, possibleto prevent or extremely minimize the vertical fine movement of thesynthetic resin component 3 in the fixed state.

Besides, the pressing member 10 a is abutted on the forward end of therod 2, and the forward end of the stopper piece 7 is abutted on theupper part of the stopper recess 8. It is, therefore, possible tomaintain the assembly direction of the synthetic resin component 3relative to the rod 2.

Hence, the present invention can provide the product excellent in theintegration of the rod 2 with the synthetic resin component 3.

The position regulating part 10 is provided as the pressing member 10 athat is the compression elastic body formed integrally with thesynthetic resin component 3. The pressing member 10 a is elasticallydeformable, so that the forward end of the rod 2 can be inserted furtherrearward of the abutment position at which the rod 2 is abutted on thepressing member 10 a. It is, therefore, possible to engage the forwardend of the stopper piece 7 with the stopper recess 8 without greatlydeforming the synthetic resin component 3. In addition, a closenessbetween the pressing member 10 a and the forward end of the rod 2 andthat between the stopper piece 7 and the abutment region of the stopperrecess 8 are further enhanced by the elastic restoring force of thepressing member 10 a. It is, therefore, possible to further improve theintegration of the synthetic resin component 3 with the rod 2.

The insertion part 4 is formed into a frame by opening the rear side ofthe insertion part 6 on both sides of the insertion part 4. It is,therefore, possible to form the insertion part 4 to be easilydeformable. This can thereby facilitate a work of attaching thesynthetic resin component 3 to the rod 2.

The protrusion 13 is provided on the side surface of the forward end ofthe rod 2, and the fitting groove 14 into which the protrusion 13 isfitted is provided in the inner side surface of the inlet-side region ofthe insertion part 6 of the synthetic resin component 3. Alternatively,the flat surface 15 is formed on the opposite side to the stopper recess8 on the side surface of the forward end of the rod 2, and the flatsurface 16 closely contacting with the flat surface 15 is formed on theinsertion part 6 of the synthetic resin component 3. It is, therefore,possible to prevent the rotation and fine movement of the syntheticresin component 3 relative to the rod 2. This can further enhance theintegration of the synthetic resin component 3 with the rod 2. Hence,the present invention exhibits greatly practical advantages.

1. A fixing structure of attaching a synthetic resin component to aforward end of a rod by inserting the forward end of the rod into aninsertion part of the synthetic resin component, wherein a rear side ofsaid insertion part is widened, a stopper piece that protrudes obliquelyrearward of an inner surface of the rear side of the insertion part isprovided within the rear side thereof, a stopper recess on a forward endof the stopper piece is formed on a side surface of the forward end ofthe rod, and a position regulating part, on which the forward end of therod is abutted during insertion of the rod, is provided in a rear partof the insertion part.
 2. The fixing structure of the rod and thesynthetic resin component according to claim 1, wherein the positionregulating part is a pressing member that is a compression elastic bodyformed integrally with the synthetic resin component.
 3. The fixingstructure of the rod and the synthetic resin component according toclaim 1, wherein an upper region of the synthetic resin component isformed into a frame by opening the rear side of the insertion part onboth sides of the upper region of the synthetic resin component.
 4. Thefixing structure of the rod and the synthetic resin component accordingto claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided on the side surface of theforward end of the rod, and a fitting groove into which the protrusionis fitted is provided in an inner side surface of an inlet-side regionof the insertion part of the synthetic resin component.
 5. The fixingstructure of the rod and the synthetic resin component according toclaim 1, wherein a flat surface is formed on an opposite side to thestopper recess on the side surface of the forward end of the rod, and aflat surface closely contacting with said flat surface is formed on theinsertion part of the synthetic resin component.